Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine if converting to a non-powdered surgical glove would: 1) decrease the cost of worker's compensation cases and 2) determine if natural rubber latex (NRL) related symptoms and sensitization decreased over the same time period after powdered latex gloves were removed. Methods: The study was a two-year, longitudinal design with a retrospective and prospective arm. Employees recalled their symptoms with NRL exposure in the 6 months prior to conversion of the OR to a non-powdered environment versus current symptoms associated with NRL exposure. The prospective component included a 14-month data collection period. Survey data was collected and NRL specific Age (Radioallergosorbent Test, RAST) serology was performed on subjects who consented. Results: A total of 103 HCWs participated. Nearly two-thirds (64%) had worked in healthcare more than 6 years and fifty-two percent (43/82) reported a history of atopy. Of those, 44% (36/82) reported hay fever/nasal allergies while, 30% (21/8) had a history of contact dermatitis. There was a significant decrease in overall NRL related symptoms after conversion to non-powdered gloves (McNemar test, p = 0.007). Prior to glove conversion (T0), nearly one-half (44%, 36/82) of the operating room staff reported symptoms related to NRL exposure. By T4, only 27% (22/82) reported NRL related symptoms. Worker's compensation costs related to latex allergy for OR employees ranged from $5250 to $10,000 per worker. Once converted, no employees reported work related symptoms. Conclusions: Worldwide, over 8 million HCWs use 12 billion NRL gloves annually and the short-term costs associated with non-powdered latex gloves are higher since they are priced fifty cents to one dollar more than powdered latex gloves. However, it is far less expensive to convert to non-powdered gloves than to pay for workers compensation cases long term medical care, or medical insurance.

Full metadata record

DC Field

Value

Language

dc.type

Presentation

en_GB

dc.title

Costs Associated With Non-Latex Glove Conversion for HCW

en_GB

dc.identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10755/155687

-

dc.description.abstract

<table><tr><td colspan="2" class="item-title">Costs Associated With Non-Latex Glove Conversion for HCW</td></tr><tr class="item-sponsor"><td class="label">Conference Sponsor:</td><td class="value">Sigma Theta Tau International</td></tr><tr class="item-year"><td class="label">Conference Year:</td><td class="value">2005</td></tr><tr class="item-author"><td class="label">Author:</td><td class="value">Korniewicz, Denise, DNSc</td></tr><tr class="item-institute"><td class="label">P.I. Institution Name:</td><td class="value">University of Miami</td></tr><tr class="item-author-title"><td class="label">Title:</td><td class="value">Associate Dean for Research</td></tr><tr class="item-email"><td class="label">Email:</td><td class="value">dkorniewicz@miami.edu</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="item-abstract">Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine if converting to a non-powdered surgical glove would: 1) decrease the cost of worker's compensation cases and 2) determine if natural rubber latex (NRL) related symptoms and sensitization decreased over the same time period after powdered latex gloves were removed. Methods: The study was a two-year, longitudinal design with a retrospective and prospective arm. Employees recalled their symptoms with NRL exposure in the 6 months prior to conversion of the OR to a non-powdered environment versus current symptoms associated with NRL exposure. The prospective component included a 14-month data collection period. Survey data was collected and NRL specific Age (Radioallergosorbent Test, RAST) serology was performed on subjects who consented. Results: A total of 103 HCWs participated. Nearly two-thirds (64%) had worked in healthcare more than 6 years and fifty-two percent (43/82) reported a history of atopy. Of those, 44% (36/82) reported hay fever/nasal allergies while, 30% (21/8) had a history of contact dermatitis. There was a significant decrease in overall NRL related symptoms after conversion to non-powdered gloves (McNemar test, p = 0.007). Prior to glove conversion (T0), nearly one-half (44%, 36/82) of the operating room staff reported symptoms related to NRL exposure. By T4, only 27% (22/82) reported NRL related symptoms. Worker's compensation costs related to latex allergy for OR employees ranged from $5250 to $10,000 per worker. Once converted, no employees reported work related symptoms. Conclusions: Worldwide, over 8 million HCWs use 12 billion NRL gloves annually and the short-term costs associated with non-powdered latex gloves are higher since they are priced fifty cents to one dollar more than powdered latex gloves. However, it is far less expensive to convert to non-powdered gloves than to pay for workers compensation cases long term medical care, or medical insurance.</td></tr></table>

en_GB

dc.date.available

2011-10-26T14:04:42Z

-

dc.date.issued

2011-10-17

en_GB

dc.date.accessioned

2011-10-26T14:04:42Z

-

dc.description.sponsorship

Sigma Theta Tau International

en_GB

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